JBLU Health Insurance?

[Truckdriver]

Can any of you JBLU guys give me an idea of the plan choices for health insurance at JBLU? Do you have only traditional plans with deductibles or do you have some PPO options with only co-pays? Also, what is the montly cost for each plan type for a family?

 

[RideandDrive]

Now you've opened a can of worms. I'm too lazy to see what I'm paying, but suffice it to say the insurance is very marginal and quite expensive.

There is a rumor circulating that in 2007 or 2008 the company is going to switch to an HSA system whereby you fund most of the cost yourself.

 

[miles otoole]

Now you've opened a can of worms. I'm too lazy to see what I'm paying, but suffice it to say the insurance is very marginal and quite expensive.

There is a rumor circulating that in 2007 or 2008 the company is going to switch to an HSA system whereby you fund most of the cost yourself.

If so, expect costs to increase significantly, especially if you have a family. It's nothing more than a pretty severe paycut. Sorry to hear of the rumor.

 

[Truckdriver]

There is a rumor circulating that in 2007 or 2008 the company is going to switch to an HSA system whereby you fund most of the cost yourself.

Oh great. The HSA system is great if you make lots of money or are single. If you are getting paid FO wages at JBLU and you have a family, then an HSA plan is no good news. If I was making 120K per year, then maybe an HSA would be good. I hope that it just becomes one of the options and not the only option.

 

[AlbieF15]

5 year old input...

It was United Healthcare when I was hired back in 01. Premiums for family were $300-$400/month if I recall. I'm sure someone there now has never and better data. FWIW...there weren't any UH providers in my area, which was one of the reasons I went with FedEx instead. I think if you are in a major urban area that won't be an issue...smaller towns could present more challenges.

 

[Snoopy Mendoza]

BlueCare1, my share of cost is $240 a month for a family of 4, $300 deductible then 90% PPO type coverage using the Blue Cross or Blue Shield network of providers.

 

[curtaindriver]

UHC is who I have, about 300/month, family. The costs are a little higher than I expected for prescriptions. My wife is the guru on that stuff. I use a flexible spending account to offset some of the costs. The rumors are always circulating about changes, who knows. My two biggest complaints are Health and Retirement. They need to be addressed.

CD

 

[Bavarian Chef]

Cost is better than the civilian world, worse than most airlines. United may be the same in cost, had a furloughee tell me that. Care has been excellent and claims and all have been painless (much more so than Tricare, although Tricare cost me exactly 298 dollars less). YMMV -- we live in an excellent university medical system.

I pay 298 a month, 236 of that is for family health with UHC. The rest is Delta Dental.

I heard we pay so much because we are in a way, self-insured.

You sure did open the can on this one. I dare a drinker to defend our "average" health care.

 

[stb]

My two biggest complaints are Health and Retirement. They need to be addressed.
CD

I think 75-85% of the US workforce in ANY industry would agree.

 

[miles otoole]

My two biggest complaints are Health and Retirement. They need to be addressed.

CD

You don't have a 401K plan? That and the Roth IRA are as good as it's gonna get.

 

[Snoopy Mendoza]

You don't have a 401K plan?

We have a 401K for a few (maybe 1 or 2) more years.

In a few years when the plan is out of 'balance', 1/3 - 1/2 of the HCE (highly compensated employee > 95K) employee contributions will be returned and taxed as ordinary income.

Darn it...

 

[Green]

We have a 401K for a few (maybe 1 or 2) more years.

In a few years when the plan is out of 'balance', 1/3 - 1/2 of the HCE (highly compensated employee > 95K) employee contributions will be returned and taxed as ordinary income.

Darn it...

please explain that.

 

[ultrarunner]

I wouldn't think there were enough "highly compensated" employees to get the plan out of balance. It in fact it does go out of balance, it's likely due to non-contributions by the lower wage earners...which wouldn't surprise me....

In any event, if it does go out of balance, that's not good.

 

[coogebeachhotel]

We have a 401K for a few (maybe 1 or 2) more years.

In a few years when the plan is out of 'balance', 1/3 - 1/2 of the HCE (highly compensated employee > 95K) employee contributions will be returned and taxed as ordinary income.

Darn it...

Are you saying that JBLU will not have a 401k in a few years?

 

[miles otoole]

please explain that.

From the Motleyfool.com:

Highly Compensated Employee (HCE)
Its federal law and it generally applies to anyone classified as making more than 95k this year.

The rule is intended to make sure that HCE participation in the plan does not far exceed the participation by lower level employees. So each year the employer calculates the limits of management contributions to the plan. The value varies with the percentage of lower level employees who participate.


A Highly Compensated Employee is indeed defined in the Internal Revenue Code, and is generally anyone who earned more than $95,000 *last year*, or is a 5% owner employee of the company. Titles, such as "management" are totally irrelevant. HCE's (a common abbreviation) are limited in the amount of salary deferals they may make to a 401(k) plan, in the amount of matching contributions they may receive. The limits is somewhat complex, but generally the limit for the "average" of HCE deferals or match, expressed as a percentage of compensation, cannot exceed the average level of deferals or match for non-HCE's by 2 percentage points, or 1.25 times the non-HCE level, whichever is less. There are also other nondiscrimination rules that ply the numbers of HCEs in plan against the numbers of non-HCEs in a plan (expressed as a percentage of total eligible HCEs or non-HCEs).

It is based on federal regulations but the specific amount will vary from company to company and is calculated each year and will apply to contribution limits for the following year. IIRC it refers to the upper 15% of employee salaries. I'm not positive of the percentage and the calculation may be a bit more complex. The purpose is to prevent higher paid employees from taking unfair advantage of the provisions of the 401k. Conversly, it tends to incourage lower paid employees to participate in the plan.

 

[orioncontract]

If my wife had to cover us (family of 4) under her job -we would pay $500 a month for an HMO. If we wanted a PPO it would be $660 a month. OUCH!

JB doesn't look too bad.

HSA is another story. I wouldn't call that insurance.

 

[Truckdriver]

Wow. $240 per month for a 90% PPO with a $300 Deductible is not too good. I pay only $160 per month for a 90% PPO with NO deductible now and it is with BCBS. Sounds like the same thing only JBLU is paying less and I would be paying more. If this is the case, I would agree with curtain driver that healthcare and retirement (3% match) need to be addressed.

 

[Falconjet]

So, none of this came up during the interview?

FJ

 

[mannyaplus11]

I will share a personal story about the JB insurance:
My daughter was diagnosed with Diabetes about 5 months ago. We took her to the hospital and she spent 4 days in Pediatric ICU. The bill came to over 20K, our portion was $800. So, in this case I have no complaints.
She's doing great, gives herself the three daily shots of insulin. Probably the bravest person I"ve ever known.

 

[FlyAuburn]

I will share a personal story about the JB insurance:
My daughter was diagnosed with Diabetes about 5 months ago. We took her to the hospital and she spent 4 days in Pediatric ICU. The bill came to over 20K, our portion was $800. So, in this case I have no complaints.
She's doing great, gives herself the three daily shots of insulin. Probably the bravest person I"ve ever known.[/quote

Good to hear that about your daughter. :beer:

 

[miles otoole]

I will share a personal story about the JB insurance:
My daughter was diagnosed with Diabetes about 5 months ago. We took her to the hospital and she spent 4 days in Pediatric ICU. The bill came to over 20K, our portion was $800. So, in this case I have no complaints.
She's doing great, gives herself the three daily shots of insulin. Probably the bravest person I"ve ever known.

Wow. I know quite a few Type I diabetics and they are some of the most responsible, mature people I have met mostly as a result of having to grow up very quickly in regards to watching everything they ate, giving themselves insulin, et al. There WILL be a cure soon.

 

[Truckdriver]

So, none of this came up during the interview?

FJ

No. I knew that it would be higher than what I am currently paying, but I wasn't sure exactly how much. I'm just trying to nail down how much money I will be making so I can start budgeting now instead of later. It's not an issue as I know healthcare has gone downhill everywhere, I just wanted to know if it was going to be around 180 or 300. Now I have a better idea and I can plan for the future.

 

[mannyaplus11]

Thanks Guys.

 

[Snoopy Mendoza]

Are you saying that JBLU will not have a 401k in a few years?

You will have to ask those HCE (at least 1/2 the pilot group) who may see 50% - 75% of their employee contributions returned to them.

In the near term, I know our management will try everything to make this problem go away. However, it is largely out of their hands. For instance, our profit sharing program (when we turn a profit) may turn into an employee contribution into our 401K plan instead of employer contribution. The rub there is that more than a few NHCEs will spend the money and thereby elect not to contribute it into their 401K.

:beer:

 

[Snoopy Mendoza]

I will share a personal story about the JB insurance:
My daughter was diagnosed with Diabetes about 5 months ago. We took her to the hospital and she spent 4 days in Pediatric ICU. The bill came to over 20K, our portion was $800. So, in this case I have no complaints.
She's doing great, gives herself the three daily shots of insulin. Probably the bravest person I"ve ever known.

Wishing you and your family the best.

 

[Truckdriver]

I will share a personal story about the JB insurance:
My daughter was diagnosed with Diabetes about 5 months ago. We took her to the hospital and she spent 4 days in Pediatric ICU. The bill came to over 20K, our portion was $800. So, in this case I have no complaints.
She's doing great, gives herself the three daily shots of insulin. Probably the bravest person I"ve ever known.

Glad to hear your daughter is doing OK. Diabetes is no fun and it takes a strong kid to do the shots. I guess I shouldn't worry about a couple a bucks here and there because when it comes to your kids, you would gladly have paid the 20K and been happy that she was OK. I guess it's just that dominate "cheap" gene rearing its ugly head once again.

 

[mannyaplus11]

Thanks for all the wishes, she is amazing and she's only 12. No history of it on either side, mine or my wife's.
As far as the JB health coverage, yes, the deductibles could be better, and some of the coverage, but, when push comes to shove, it ain't bad.

 

[Hair-on-Fire]

I just have coverage for myself from JBLU and it's $23 a paycheck ($46 a month) works fine.

 

[Bavarian Chef]

Manny -- good to hear she's doing well. Been quite a year for you. Man we need to booze it up again, er I mean go to church or the library like I always do on layovers.

:beer:

 

[Caveman]

Coverage for me and my boss comes to $79 @ paycheck.